Campus Safety arms officers

In recent years, there has been an increase in mass school shootings that continue to pose a threat to our nation. Statstica estimates that 35 school shootings have occurred in 2024 as of July. To prevent this threat on campus, Associate Vice President of Campus Safety Rick Tupper said that the Department of Campus Safety will now arm four officers during the day. All officers will wear body cameras.

“We did quite a bit of research,” Tupper said. “We’ve had armed officers at events for 15 years now, but with the things that have been going on in the nation, we decided that it was probably in our best interest to make sure that we have the right coverage on campus.”

Tupper referenced the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia, as a reason to increase a security presence on campus.

Despite being close to the Sioux Falls Police Department, it still takes five minutes for police to reach Augustana’s campus. Armed officers already at the school would allow an immediate response. 

“Our goal is to make sure that we can get someone there as quickly as possible to hopefully stop [the shooter],” said Tupper. “Our officers are very familiar with campus. In case of an emergency, they could be there within two to three minutes.”

Tupper said that officers will only be armed during the daytime, when threats usually occur.

Firearms aren’t just new for Campus Safety but the students they protect. Junior Alex Folgar has reservations about having armed officers on campus. 

“One part of me is relieved knowing that if there ever was a shooting, there would potentially be someone on campus able to manage the situation,” Folgar said. “On the other hand, I worry about whether or not the training officers receive is sufficient enough for them to carry firearms.”

Other students feel safer knowing Campus Safety is better equipped to protect students in case of emergency. 

“I trust their quality and seriousness of training,” Junior Adrienne Lewis said. “Knowing that something like an active shooting could be stopped much faster than if we had to wait for police makes me happy with this decision.”

Only a select few officers with prior law enforcement or military experience will be armed. Sergeant Gary Robinson is one of them. 

Robinson is a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps and served 21 years as a police officer at a public university in Iowa, as well as for the South Dakota State Penitentiary and as a member of the Special Operations Response and Tactics Team.

Robinson took several firearm courses to prepare for these roles, including preparation for active shooters and shoot-no-shoot scenarios. Robinson feels confident in his past training to address any shooting incidents.

“I have taught several courses in TASER, ASP baton, Defensive Tactics, weapons retention, handcuffing, use of force, just to name a few,” Robinson said. “Firearms would only be used in the most extreme case of either my life or the life of someone else who was in imminent danger such as an active shooter. We must as an institution be prepared for this possibility.”

Body cameras are another new addition to Campus Safety. 

Lewis worries that this will create a rift between officers and students and is concerned that recording will make interactions between officers and students awkward, but Robinson insists that body cameras will not affect department behavior.

Tupper hopes that the use of body cams and the presence of armed officers will help students feel safer.

“If a shooter comes into your classroom, do you want to wait for the police?” Tupper said. “We’re just trying to stay in front of what’s going on.”